The Firefighters Race, Lace Up Save Lives

The registration period has opened for the Cursa de Bombers, or the Firefighters Race, the big springtime’s athletics event, and it will close on 12 April or when the limit set at 18.000 runners has been reached.

The entry fee is 13 euros for those who already have their own yellow chip or 16 euros for those who don’t. For those registering on or after 15 March, it will cost 19 euros. Entries can be made online via the race website or in person at registration points.

This year the race will be collecting funds for the fight against AIDS in Africa, with all the profits from the sale of Nike (RED) trainer laces going wholly to the RED initiative, the foundation set up by U2’s Bono.

The run’s organisers are repeating the initiative of previous years, namely a pre-race training programme called the Lunaruns, night-time orienteering runs that will be held on 24 and 31 March, and 7 and 14 April.

Tour:
The Firefighters Race will set off from Avinguda del Marquès de l’Argentera, next to Ciutadella Park, on Sunday 18 April, and will cover 10 km through the city’s main streets. The terraces of the Hotel Barcelona Universal & Hotel Soho Barcelona will be perfect points for athletics fans to watch the race.

Discover one of the most historic hotels in Barcelona

Hotel Granvia first opened its doors in 1935, offering luxurious accommodation in a refurbished 19th century palace. Its original owner, Doña Dorotea de Chopitea y Villota (1816-1891), was one of Barcelona’s most active and influential residents, and collaborated significantly to the construction of the Tibidabo Temple, the Sant Joan de Déu and Sacred Heart Hospitals, and many other religious, educational, and public health institutions in her time. Her philanthropy earned her the honorary title “Mother of the Poor,” and in 1983, she was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II.

One of the highlights of the palace, originally built in 1870, is the grand staircase, which culminates in a columned gallery and stained-glass vault, the Don Bosco hall and its 500m garden-terrace. Each room in Hotel Granvia is completely unique, and fitted with 19th century furnishings and décor. Throughout its long history, the hotel has served as the setting for various films, television shows, and reports, among them Rafael Alcázar’s “The Greek Labyrinth,” an adaptation of Manuel Vázquez Montalbán’s novel of the same name, and Antoni Ribas’ “The Burned City,” set in Barcelona at the turn of the century, and starring Joan Manuel Serrat.

To celebrate its profound involvement in Barcelona’s history, Hotel Granvia invites you to dine at H1898 Restaurant, located in the historical building on the Ramblas that was once the site of the Philippines Tobacco Company, and now hosts the luxurious Hotel 1898.

The 75th Anniversary package includes:

• 2 nights at Hotel Granvia (one double room, with breakfast included)
• Complimentary bottle of wine to welcome you
• Dinner for two at H1898 Restaurant (tasting menu)

Book now and come Celebrate Hotel Granvia’s 75th Anniversary with us!

Win a shirt of F.C. Barcelona with the U232 Hotel

Every quarter we will raffle a FC Barcelona Official T-shirt among all who have stayed at the U232 Hotel with Futbol Pack. The first raffle will be on April, 1st 2010.

Win a shirt of F.C. Barcelona and take the opportunity to enjoy a weekend in the comfortable Hotel U232 near the city centre as well as Camp Nou! The offer suggests a visit to the FC Barcelona museum. Futbol Club Barcelona is a repository of more than 100 years of history, or rather, stories which are an intrinsic part of an epic sport.

The Museu del Barça, which is housed on the Camp Nou stadium, was a pioneer in the world of football when it opened in 1984 and traces the 110 years of Barça’s history. Here, you’ll find photographs, audiovisual exhibits, collections of anecdotes, curiosities, the trophies won by all the club’s sections, objects belonging to its star players and temporary exhitions. It’s designed for young children and adults with 1.2 million visitors a year, is one of the city’s most popular museums.

The U232 FOOTBALL PACK includes:

• 2 nights in a U232 room.
• Package is also available on Basic room or Family room.
• Breakfast in the exclusive/amazing U232 buffet restaurant.
• Welcome drink in the U232 bar for 2 persons.
• 2 tickets to the Camp Nou Tour and FC Barcelona Museum.
• We will raffle a FCBarcelona T-Shirt every 3 months.

Don’t think it twice, book now your Football Pack !!

The Pope will visit Barcelona and Sagrada Familia

On Sunday November 7th, Pope Benedict XVI will come to Barcelona and consecrate the Temple of Sagrada Familia. This piece of news was announced yesterday by Cardinal Archbishop of Barcelona, Lluis Martinez Sistach.

This visit shows the high esteem of the Pope for the catalan architect Antoni Gaudi, added the spoke-person at the Vatican, Federico Lombardi. NN Hotels invites you to discover all Gaudi’s buildings as well as other Art-Noveau works in Barcelona, such as Park Guell or Palau de la Musica, with the Modernism Route.

The last time a Pope was in Barcelona dates from 1982, when John Paul II visited Montserrat, the construction works at Sagrada Familia and celebrated mass at the Camp Nou stadium.

Commentaire de l’Hôtel Barcelona Universal

Bonjour,

Notre séjour dans votre hotel Barcelona Universal s’est très bien passé et a été vraiment très agréable. Chambre bien agencée,literie très confortable, ménage/propreté impeccable, et grande penderie très appréciable. l’ensemble du personnel est très attentioné, souriant, disponible (petit déjeuner, accueil, consignes, portier…) avec une mention spéciale/bonus pour le garçon de l’accueil qui parle très bien français -je n’ai pas retenu son nom-

Votre hotel est à la hauteur de vos étoiles méritées.

A bientôt

Claude, Mars 2010.

www.hotelbarcelonauniversal.com

Win a free stay in Barcelona with NNHotels

Once again, NN Hotels is giving a free stay to one of our guests, who shared with us his / her review after staying in Barcelona.

This time the lucky winner is: Jesús Martínez, who posted his comments on the Spanish version of our blog. Congratulations!!!!
He will be soon emailed with the details of his Free Stay at B-Hotel.

We continue encouraging our guests to express their opinions about our nine centrally located hotels in Barcelona, and on July 1st 2010 we will give another free stay, this time at Hotel Jazz, just next to Plaza Catalunya.

The prize consists of:

• A two nights stay in at Hotel Jazz with Breakfast included.
• Welcome Drink at the Jazz Bar.
• To be used between: July 1st and September 30th 2010 (subject to availability).
• No changes can be made once the reservation has been confirmed.
• The prize can not be used in conjunction with other item or goods.
• The prize can not be exchanged for any other item or goods.
• The prize is personal and non-transferable.

Only people who have already stayed in one of our nine hotels and post a review on the blog are eligible for the prize. Winners will be advised via e-mail and their name and surname will be published on the blog.

If you have any queries, please send a message to the following address: newsletter@nnhotels.com

“La Reial ens mou”, new initiative in Barcelona

Music, children’s shows, literary circles, workshops, wine tasting sessions: all this and much more can be found in Plaça Reial, thanks to Plaça Reial ens mou, an initiative that aims to broaden the range of cultural and leisure activities on offer in this iconic Barcelona square.

Roberto Tierz, who is the president of the Plaça Reial Friends and Traders Association, says the idea is for “the people of Barcelona to rediscover the Plaça Reial and enjoy the square“.

December saw “Raval Kids” and they have also started the Sunday mornings for children, with puppet shows, magic, storytelling and circus acts at the sala Tarantos. Since February they have been offering 30 minutes of jazz, to suit everybody, on Sunday mornings in sala Jamboree. What’s more, when the good weather arrives, there will be some open air activities, like musical aperitifs, to encourage music on the terraces.

La Reial ens mou also wants to make the most of the square’s gastronomic side and has therefore organised tea, coffee and wine tasting, led by tasters and wine experts, in the square’s bars and restaurants.

In short, the big aim is “the ‘reconquest’ of the square, for people to return to a square that has a great deal to offer and is a great unknown in the city“.

If you would like to know all the activities and events that the Plaça Reial Friends and Traders Association will organize with the new initiative, please visit the La Reial website.

Barcelona Marathon: March 7th

At 8.30 am on March 7th, the city will once again be packed with marathon runners ready to run more than 42 kilometres round the main city streets. All in all, there will be more than 12,000 runners taking part, athletes and amateurs from all the corners of the world, who will make this the biggest in the marathon’s history.

This year, together with the marathon, the organisers also want to make the liveliest, and to have the streets filled with thousands of city residents keen to support the runners and make the most of all the activities lined up for this athletics morning. There will be up to 40 entertainment points, practically one every kilometre, where spectators can enjoy the athletics while taking part in sports and music activities, tasting some gastronomic specialities, concerts, folk and cultural activities and lots more besides.

More inf@: Barcelona Marathon 2010

Loved the Soho Hotel

We had a great stay at the SOHO.

The rooms were very spacious and well appointed. The bed was large and comfortable, excellent water pressure in the shower, and nice towels. The breakfast was great and we were so happy to have it so close by-the room itself is a great space.

It was too cold for the pool, but I loved that space also; would love to duplicate a lot of the decor!!

Experience posted by moira, Feb 2010.

Soho room

 

Primavera Sound Festival celebrates 10 years at Montjuïc Castle

The line-up for the next Primavera Sound Festival, 10th edition, was dissected in the Anatomical Amphitheatre at the Royal Academy of Medicine of Catalonia, where the names were announced of over 40 artists who are appearing on 27, 28 and 29 May at Forum Park, in addition to the 60 or so already announced.

In all, approximately 170 artists will be taking part in a Primavera Sound celebrating its tenth birthday. The birthday party, about which hardly anything is known, will be held on 26 May at Montjuïc Castle.

So, this time it will be possible to see the Pet Shop Boys, who are appearing on Saturday 29 May in what will be the first performance of the year by the English electronic pop duo. Another historic band coming to the festival are The Charlatans performing their first album, Some Friendly.

In addition, Primavera will also have DJ, producer and composer Diplo, a genuine cult figure responsible for the sound of M.I.A., Santogold and Bonde do Role, as well as remixing Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. Also coming to the festival are Marc Almond, master of cabaret pop; Broken Social Scene, back after five years of being involved in other projects; CocoRosie, the freak folk of the Cassidy sisters, and The Wave Pictures, heirs of Hefner.

Along with the Pixies, Pavement, Wilco and Low, already confirmed, the presence of Junip, the band with José González, has now been confirmed, as well as Gary Numan, synth-pop pioneer; The Slits, a historic post-punk outfit, and some of the successful bands from the last Primavera Club, like Beach House and Scout Niblett.

Local names include Nueva Vulcano, Biscuit, Emilio José, Half Foot Outside, Cohete, Delorean and Mujeres.

 

www.primaverasound.com

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